News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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The bride and groom with their witnesses and Mayor Peter Schmitt

@Ulrike Bartsch
The bride's older brother, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife, Princess Anna Catharina. They came to the civil wedding with their young daughter.

Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen and Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia were united in marriage today at the Amorbach Refektorium. This was the civil ceremony, which is required by German law. It is the legal marriage.

Princess Viktoria Luise Kira Ehrengard of Prussia is the second of three children of the late Prince Friedrich Wilhem of Prusia and his second wife, Ehrengard von Reden.

The couple were married by Amorbach's mayor Peter Schmitt.

Blue was the color of the day. The Hereditary Prince wore a dark blue suit with an orange handkerchief in the top pocket of the jacket. Princess Victoria Luise chose a sky-blue jacquard dress, which was complemented by silver pumps. She carried a small bouquet that included pink roses, peonies and lily-of-the valley.

The couple were joined by their parents, the Prince and Princess of Leiningen and Princess Ehrengard of Prussia, along with siblings and friends. A reception at the Rectory was held after the wedding.

The religious wedding will take place in Amorbach on September 16.

This was the first marriage between two descendants of Queen Victoria since 1981 when Prince Andreas zu Leiningen (now the Prince of Leiningen) married Princess Alexandra of Hanover.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

The German magazine is reporting that Prince Christian of Hannover, 31, younger son of Prince Ernst August of Hanover and his first wife, Chantal Hochuli, is engaged to Peruvian model Alessandra de Osma, 25.

In March, the couple attended the Rose Ball in Monaco. Christian's stepmother, Princess Caroline of Monaco, is estranged from his father, but Christian and his older brother, Prince Ernst August, remain in contact with Caroline and her family.

Alessandra's father, Felipe, is a senior executive with Hermes, a Peruvian cash management firm. In 2015, the Carlyle Group acquired control of Hermes.

The family descends from Peruvian politician Pedro de Osma y Pardo (1868-1936).

Prince Christian met Alessandra in Peru when she was 14 years old, and she became his tour guide in Lima. A friendship developed between them, and by 2011, they were a couple as Sassa (Alessandra's nickname) accompanied Christian to the wedding of Countess Matilde Borremeo and Prince Antonius zu Fürstenberg. Matildes half sister, Beatrice, is now married to Christian's stepbrother, Pierre Casiraghi.

The couple have lived quietly for several year in Madrid, where Prince Christian has studied business administration. His father and Queen Sofia are first cousins.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Prince Heinrich of Bavaria married Henrietta Gruse at Kloster Andechs earlier today. Heinrich, 31, is the second son of Prince Luitpold and Princess Beatrix of Bavaria.

Thanks to Gabi Piesiur for allowing me to use a selection of her photos. She is the copyright holder.

The two women are the Duchess of Braganza and the Countess Elisabeth of Toerring Jettenbach

Princess Anastasia of Croy with her father, the Duke of Croy. Prince Heinrich of Croy.

The Prince and Princess of Ligne

Princess Anna and Prine Manuel of Bavaria, Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Princess Felipa of Bavaria with her husband, Christian Dienst. Princess Felipa is expecting her third child.

The Duke in Bavaria with his daughter, Duchess Elizabeth and her husband, Daniel Terberger

The bride arrives

Brothers-in-law Prince Lukas of Auersperg with his son, Prince Ludwig, and Prince Ferdinand of Lippe-Weissenfeld with his younger son, Prince Carl Philipp. Their wives, Princesses Alice and Auguste are sisters of the groom.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.